Hiccup sat on a cliff, high up in the mountains. He decided he would go somewhere he hadn't been before. Below, he saw his friends by raven point, trying to search for him. He could hear their voices calling for his name or his dragon's, but he simply didn't care. He didn't care about anything. Just like his father didn't care about a person whether it was an enemy or not. His father had hurt him. His father was a maniac. His father…hadn't changed one bit. He remembered back earlier that morning where his father brought him to the Great Hall so that they could have their painting.

"Shoulder back, chin up son," Stoick said, patting Hiccup's shoulder. It was time for the chief and his son's portrait that would be staying in the Great Hall along with the rest of the elite of the Haddock clan. The hall was cleared out as the two stood next to each other.

Stoick's hands wrapped around Hiccup's shoulder, pulling him close to him with proudness, and his other hand gripping the handle of the old, traditional sword. Each family had its sword and shield that would represent their family. With its family crest carved into the bottom of the handle or painted at the front of the shield, to show it was rightfully theirs. Hiccup held an old shield in his right hand, the other one hanging limply down. He felt uncomfortable in the position he was forced to stay in. The shield he held had the Haddock's family crest. It was a simple symbol put together of three things. An eye, a Viking helmet and the symbol of protection.

Never had he questioned the history behind the symbol, and neither did he plan to. A part of him didn't want to know about the way it was made, assuming it involved dragon killing, but at the same time he wanted to know the secret behind it, because of his curiosity.

"This portrait is going to hang in this hall forever," Stoick laughed, looking at the artist. Bucket. Bucket punched himself several times, bumping his bucket into the post behind him and continued painting like a maniac. He had the enthusiasm of a little girl that was allowed to bond with a hatchling.

"I've never seen this side of Bucket before," Hiccup whispered, keeping his eyes on the artist.

"Well, since he lost half of his brain he became…an artist," Stoick chuckled, watching the artist paint on the shield with different colors that he was sure neither of them wore.

"So he can actually paint," Hiccup said more as a statement than a question.

"Oh, he's the best! He's going to do us proud son," Stoick said enthusiastically. "Now, chest out son," Stoick said once he noticed Hiccup's sloppy posture. Hiccup gasped in air to make his chest pop out, but breathed out afterwards in defeat.

"Yeah, this is as out as it goes, dad," He sighed, relaxing a little more but held his shoulders back and chin up proudly.

"Nah, very well then," Stoick sighed and turned back to the artist again. There was silence for the rest of the time until finally, the painting was done.

The whole village gathered in the Great Hall for the traditional painting of the heir to the thrown of Berk and the chief. Stoick and Hiccup stood at the front, next to the painting though it was still in view. Stoick had his arm wrapped around his son's shoulder proudly, just like they had when they were posturing for the artist. Just this time they didn't have to carry their weapons or shields.

Bucket gripped the blanket covering the painting as Stoick calmed everyone down and the air was deadly quiet, all eyes focused on the covered painting. He ripped the blanket away from the painting, revealing the new portrait of the latest heir and chief. The crowd cheered, looking back and forth at the painting and the real life people on it. They couldn't see the difference. It was absolutely wonderful. Stoick thanked Bucket and cheered with Mulch and his close friends of Berk. He was too busy to take notice of Hiccup sneaking out of the Great Hall with his friends who was getting ready for the snowboarding competition though Hiccup kept reminding them it was not a competition.

He sighed, leaning down on the black, scaly dragon behind him. Closing his eyes, he could hear the sound of his friends calling his name get fainter and fainter which calmed him down. As much as he wanted to go down and tell them they didn't have to look after him, he knew he couldn't. They would just follow him and know about his new place. They wouldn't leave him alone and that was exactly what he wanted now.

Even if he wouldn't see them for three years, he simply didn't care. All he could care about was how his father had recently been so harsh to him and earlier been so soft. He silently prayed to the gods they would find someone to help his father control his anger while he was gone. He didn't know what he would do if he came back to his father in the same state as he was now and probably would be when he left. Thinking about it, he wasn't sure if his father would even show up to bid farewell to him. And just as expected, he didn't.

Hiccup took his basket and strapped on of them over his shoulders and the other on Toothless's saddle. They walked downstairs together and walked out of the house where the village was waiting along with his friend and Gobber. Before he closed the door, he looked at his dad who had fallen asleep in his chair by the fireplace. If his father would say goodbye, he wouldn't be asleep at that time. The light from outside, shone brightly at his thin figure, making his figure look darker from the inside. "I'm sorry dad. See you in a few years," He whispered and shut the door, walking down the few steps to where his friends stood. They tackled him into a group hug shortly followed by Gobber and the dragons.

Hiccup laughed warmly at the feeling of someone that would miss him. But his heart still felt empty. Like it was shattered and put together again like a puzzle mystery with only one piece missing to complete it with. He looked at the door, silently praying to himself that his father would come through the doors anytime soon, but he didn't. His heart broke, but he managed to put on a fake smile.

A green terrible terror landed on his head, begging for attention. He chuckled and pulled the terror down in his arms, scratching his chin. It purred in delight of his soft and gentle touch.

"Looks like someone wants to come with us, huh bud?" Hiccup chuckled, patting the night fury's head as he saddled up. He buttoned up his coat so he wouldn't catch a cold, and placed the now sleeping orange and green terror in his lap. He pulled the basket further up on his shoulders and secured his items to the saddle and himself. Then he turned to his friends and the village.

"I guess I'll see you in a few years then," The villagers cheered for their heir, watching him take off north of Berk.

Astrid watched him fly away slowly. Already she could feel her heart breaking, and it had only been a few seconds.